Had a fine 5 days at a campsite in between First and Second Lakes. Here's the view up the South Fork from the North Fork trail:
The sun was hot (got up too late!), but it did provide me with this image:
After a few miles of dry uphill hiking, the cataract of Second Falls is a real treat:
It's not a vertical falls, but rather a very steep cascade over rock. There were many more scenes like the one above.
The stone cabin of the actor Lon Chaney at Cienega Mirth is impressive:
Wow, what a cabin in such a place! I was green with envy. . .
Our first view of Temple Crag, above the ledge of First Lake:
We met several climbing groups heading for Temple Crag and the Palisade Crest peaks.
The color of First Lake was even better in person, and a surprise to my wife who had not seen any pictures of it.
The peninsula really gives this lake character: I hiked down to it from our camp to try the fishing. No luck the first day, but finally the vintage wisdom of Giant Brookie paid off:
A 12" Brown(?) Trout. (edit: it's a Rainbow!)
Temple Crag above Second Lake:
Some serious alpen glow on, I think, Mt. Winchell: (edit: It's actually Mt. Robinson)
The peaks above the Middle Palisade Glacier, seen as we were hiking out:
After getting down to Big Pine, we ate a restaurant meal, obtained a motel room, showered and laid down in a nice, soft bed. Serious luxuries after backpacking, as you are all aware! Hey this was tough work for us old folks! My wife is just 69, and I'm a young 60 year old. . .
As we left, the sunrise early Tuesday morning was beautiful:
Here's the link to the full photoset on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwhitmyre/ ... 204565890/
Thanks to all you folks for your responses to my questions. I'll be back!
North Fork Big Pine Creek TR
- kgw
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North Fork Big Pine Creek TR
Last edited by kgw on Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- windknot
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Re: North Fork Big Pine Creek TR
Nice shots, thanks for the report. It's always neat to see that aquamarine color of some of those east slope lakes. I like the framing of that last sunrise picture, by the way.
Matt
Matt
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Re: North Fork Big Pine Creek TR
Those turquoise lakes are awesome! Awesome that your wife is out there at that age. I hope to be doing the same! Beautiful pix of a beautiful area! Thanks!
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
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- kgw
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Re: North Fork Big Pine Creek TR
Thanks for the kind words Snow Nymph, we started going to the Sierras before we were married, and kept it up until moving to eastern New York state for a while. We've been getting back into the local mountains (Southern California), but I had been pining for a High Sierra walk.
I'm sure you will be cruising the mountains for a long while.
I'm sure you will be cruising the mountains for a long while.
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